E-Bikes in NYS

[Jesse Peers]

Hi friends,

I'm passing along an important legislative update from our good friend Daniel Convissor of Bike Tarrytown. E-bikes will get many more people on bikes. My parents just both bought e-bikes and they're biking much more. They allow people with muscular issues, breathing issues, knee issues, etc to bike and not have to do everything by car. They are a real game changer.

E-bike legislation is moving in Albany.  But there are serious problems with the bills.  The session ends on Wednesday, so take action today...

We definitely need to #DeliverJustice for working cyclists.  NYPD crackdowns and confiscations are absurd.  While the current bills solve that problem, it creates a bunch of new targets for police harassment:

• Operators and passengers must be >= 16.  This means parents  can't transport their kids on ebikes!

• If we're reading this right, they'd only allow riding ebikes on  streets, unless the local controlling entity allows them.  So no  ebiking on the Empire State Trail, etc.

• Local governments can ban ebikes.  So we'd have to check the laws in  each jurisdiction we want to pass through, making long distance  cycling impractical.

• Bans sidewalk biking except where locals opt in.  No seeking  shelter from dangerous roads for you.

These restrictions make no sense for ebikes that go 20 MPH or less ("Class 1" and "Class 2" ebikes) which behave very similarly to regular bikes.  They're understandable for the faster Class 3 ebikes.

If this goes through, bike advocates around New York will have to spend the next several years lobbying hundreds of local governments and agencies to either allow and/or not ban ebikes.  I know I have better things to do.  Don't you?

Considering Class 1 ebikes are in a legal gray area, with loads of people using them around all of New York State with little, if any, police harassment...  If the Legislature can't fix this bill, we're better off with no bill.

Get in touch with the decision makers today:

Governor Cuomo: 518-474-8390 x2

Senate: https://www.nysenate.gov/find-my-senator

Assembly: http://nyassembly.gov/mem/search/

The problems above are from the versions of the bills posted Monday morning (S5294A / A7431B).  Here's info on the bill: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2019/S5294/

[Jesse Peers]

Hi all,

Some of you have probably gotten this People for Bikes blast but I'm passing it on in case you haven't. The Governor has still not signed the e-bike law.

 

The New York State Legislature recently passed Senate Bill 5294, a much needed update to New York’s electric bicycle law. This is the first e-bike bill in New York that would make it easy for New Yorkers to legally ride e-bikes in the state. Thank you to Senator Ramos and Assemblymember Rozic for sponsoring the bill.

 

We need your help to fix the bill so it's less complicated, more inclusive and consistent with other states. Keep reading to see how you can help. 

 

What's good about the bill:

• Defines Class 1 and 2 e-bikes consistently with e-bike laws in Connecticut, New Jersey, Maine, New Hampshire and 18 other states

• Clarifies that e-bikes are not subject to licensing and registration

• Gives e-bikes the same rights to the road as bicycles

• Allows Class 1 and 2 e-bikes to be ridden on streets and bike lanes

Language we disagree with:

• Creates uncertainty around e-bike access on bike paths

• Fails to define Class 3 e-bikes

• Prohibits people under the age of 16 from riding as passengers on cargo e-bikes that are specifically designed to carry children

 

We need your help to ask Governor Cuomo to call for chapter amendments to the bill before he signs it into law. Click the button below to take action and help make riding an e-bike in New York safe, legal and fun. Sign the petition: https://peopleforbikes.org/nyebike/